Rectoscope with semi-reflective tube surface

ABSTRACT

A rectoscope for examination of the rectum includes a wide-lumen tube, a light conductor connection coupling light from an illumination device to the wide-lumen tube, and a viewing optic disposed in the proximal region of the wide-lumen tube and focused on the center region of the distal opening. Substantially the entire internal side of the wide-lumen tube includes a semi-reflecting surface such that the internal side conducts light from the light conductor connection to the distal opening.

DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rectoscope for, in particular, theexamination of the rectum according to the generic part of claim 1.

2. State of the Art

Generic type rectoscopes, manufactured by way of illustration by KarlStorz GmbH & Co, KG, Tuttlingen, Germany, have a wide-lumen tube thedistal end of which can be inserted, for instance, into the rectum.

Furthermore, an illumination device is provided, the light of which iscoupled proximally or distally into the wide-lumen tube. The examiningperson views the to-be-examined area of the rectum through the openproximal end of the wide-lumen end without any additional auxiliaryviewing devices, such as a microscope or the like.

Therefore, the known generic type rectoscopes have the disadvantage thatviewing of the to-be-examined area of the rectum occurs with the nakedeye. Thus, the examining person is unprotected, for instance, againstsplattering blood. More important, however, viewing does not deliver ahigh-contrast image, in particular, if the examining person wearseyeglasses, due to the interference of reflections of the illuminationlight from the inside wall of the wide-lumen tube.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to further develop a rectoscopeaccording to the generic part of claim 1 in such a manner that ahigh-contrast image of the to-be-examined area is obtained obviating theuse of a distal optic which can easily soil and, moreover, takes up apart of the distal tube lumen so that it cannot be utilized forinstruments.

A solution to this object according to the present invention is setforth in claim 1. Further embodiments of the present invention are thesubject matter of claims 2 and the following claims.

An element of the present invention is that a viewing optic, which canbe focused on the central region of the distal opening of the tube, isattached at the proximal end of the wide-lumen tube. This viewing optic,the focus plane of which lies in the region of the distal opening,yields a high-contrast image, because due to the focusing of theopening, the reflections of the illumination light from thesemi-reflecting inside wall of the tube no longer interfere. It isespecially advantageous if the enlargement of the viewing optic isselected in such a manner that the viewer only sees the distal openingand, if need be, a small part of the distal end of the tube.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the focus plane ofthe viewing optic is adjustable. In this way, the regions outside theplane in which the distal opening of the rectoscope is located can alsobe viewed sharply.

In principle, any optics can be employed as the viewing optics as longas they permit, with a terminal window of the viewing optic disposed inthe region of the proximal end of the rectoscope, observationrespectively viewing of the distal end of the rectoscope.

However, it is especially advantageous if the observation optic is anendoscope, the length of which is dimensioned in such a manner that itprojects only partly into the wide-lumen tube so that the endoscope lens(still) is disposed in the proximal region. Thus the viewing optic canbe constructed in a simpler and therefore more economical manner ofendoscope components already available for other purposes.

Furthermore, the beam path can be bent in a simple manner in such a waythat the eyepiece forming an angle with the axis of the tube does nothinder free access to the proximal end of the rectoscope.

Free access to the proximal end is further facilitated by the viewingoptic being disposed eccentric in relation to the wide-lumen tube.

In particular, the viewing optic can be attached via a standard couplingto a flange which is provided with at least one instrument. Due to thefact that both the viewing optic and the illumination device are locatedin the proximal region of the wide-lumen tube, this instrument can bemoved unhindered over the entire region of the distal opening of thetube and can simultaneously be viewed with the viewing optic.

In order to avoid reflections it is also advantageous if the axes of theillumination device and the viewing optic form an angle < > °.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention is made more apparent by way of example in thefollowing without the intention of limiting the scope or spirit of theoverall inventive idea using a preferred embodiment with reference tothe drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the invented rectoscope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The rectoscope, which is especially suited for the examination of therectum, shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a wide-lumen tube 1 which isopen at its distal end 1' thus at the front. The rectoscope is insertedwith its distal end 1', by way of illustration, into the rectum.

An element of the present invention is that an illumination device 2 anda viewing optic 3 are disposed in the region of the proximal end 1" ofthe wide-lumen tube 1.

For this purpose, two couplings 4 respectively 5 are provided on thetube 1, of which coupling 4 permits a detachable connection of theillumination device 2 and coupling 5 permits the detachable connectionof the viewing optic 3 to the tube 1.

The illumination device 2 is provided with a light conductor connection6 and a light conductor element 7, which projects through an opening inthe tube into the interior of tube 1.

The light conductor connection 6, which may be constructed in the samemanner as known endoscopes, by way of illustration from Karl Storz GmbH& Co., is located outside tube 1 and permits coupling in the light of anot depicted illumination light source via an also not depicted lightconductor cable. The connection of a conventional illumination lightsource via a light conductor cable to the light conductor connection 6is known, therefore obviating closer description here.

Light conductor element 7 conducts the light coupled into the lightconductor connection 6 to its light exit surface 71 in the tube. Lightexit area 71 is preferably located, like in the shown preferredembodiment, in the region of the proximal end 1" of tube 1. The lightemerging from the light exit area 71 of the light conductor element 7 iscoupled into the wide-lumen tube.

In the shown preferred embodiment the part of the light conductorelement 7 projecting into the interior of tube 1 is not disposed in thetube axis 11. The internal side of tube 1 is designed semi-reflecting sothat the internal side of the tube serves as a light transmitter for thelight emerging from the light exit area 71. In this way the lightemerging from the light exit area 71 illuminates, if need be afterreflection from the inside wall of tube 1, the distal terminal area 1'as well as the region of the interior of the body adjacent thereto.

Furthermore, the illumination device 2 may be provided at its lightentry or its light exit with an optical system (not depicted in thedrawing), which permits focusing respectively altering the angle of theopening of the light cone emerging from the light exit area 71 so thatthe size of the illuminated area of the body can be varied.

In the shown preferred embodiment, a flange 8 is provided which coversthe proximal opening of tube 1 like a kind of cover and which isdetachably connected to the tube by means of a coupling 5. The flange 8bears a coupling 9 which is designed as a conventional endoscopecoupling as they are provided, by way of illustration, on trocar shaftsfor connecting endoscopes. 91 stands for a lever for operating coupling9.

An endoscope, which serves as the viewing optic 3, is connected by meansof the coupling 9 to the flange 8. In the shown preferred embodiment,the endoscope 3 is provided with a rod-shaped component 31 and aneyepiece component 32, which is set at an angle to the rod-shapedcomponent 31 for better accessibility and for easier handling.

The length of the rod-shaped component 31 is dimensioned in such amanner that it partly projects into tube 1. The endoscope lens, notdepicted in the drawing, has an opening angle 33, which is selected insuch a manner that the distal terminal area 1' of tube 1 is completelyimaged.

The image of the endoscope lens is transmitted in an as such knownmanner by means of an image transmitter, which may be provided by way ofillustration with a rod lens relay system or an imaging fiber bundle, tothe proximal end so that it can be viewed by means of the eyepiece.

Furthermore, the viewing optic 3 is designed in such a manner that thecenter region of the distal opening 1' of the tube 1 can be focused; thefocus plane of the viewing optic 3 is adjustable. An adjustment ring 34serves for focusing.

The drawing shows the rod-shaped component 31 of the endoscope servingas the viewing optic 3, which is also disposed outside the tube axis 11and forms an angle < > ° with it.

Furthermore, the flange 8 is provided with a channel 10 for insertion ofanother instrument. As both the illumination device 2 and the viewingoptic 3 are disposed in the proximal region 1" of tube 1 outside theaxis of the tube.

In the preceding the present invention has been described using apreferred embodiment without the intention of limiting the overallinventive concept as, in particular, is set forth in the claims. Ofcourse there are a variety of different modifications possible withinthis overall inventive concept:

Thus, in particular, the illumination device and the viewing optic canbe combined to a unit as is generally usual in endoscopes in which boththe illumination light conductor and the relay lens system run in oneand the same tube.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rectoscope for examination of a bodycomprising:a wide-lumen tube (1) having a distal opening (1') which canbe inserted into the body; a light conductor connection (6) fortransmitting light into said wide-lumen tube (1); a viewing optic (3)which can be focused on a center region of the distal opening (1') ofsaid wide-lumen tube (1); and substantially an entire internal side ofsaid wide-lumen tube (1) having a semi-reflecting surface such that saidinternal side of said tube conducts light from said light conductorconnection toward the distal opening (1').
 2. A rectoscope according toclaim 1, characterized by the fact that a focus plane of said viewingoptic (3) is adjustable.
 3. A rectoscope according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said viewing optic is an endoscope havinga rod-shaped component (31) which only partly projects into thewide-lumen tube (1).
 4. A rectoscope according to claim 3, characterizedby the fact that said endoscope has an eyepiece (32) which forms anangle < > ° with the rod-shaped component (31) which is inserted intosaid wide-lumen tube (1).
 5. A rectoscope according to claim 3,characterized by the fact that a lens of said endoscope is located in aproximal region (1") of said wide-lumen tube (1).
 6. A rectoscopeaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said viewing optic(3) is disposed eccentric in relation to said wide-lumen tube (1).
 7. Arectoscope according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a flange(8) is provided which can be connected to said wide-lumen tube (1) bymeans of a coupling (5) and to which said viewing optic (3) is attached.8. A rectoscope according to claim 7, characterized by the fact thatsaid viewing optic (3) is connected to said flange (8) by means of astandard endoscope coupling (9).
 9. A rectoscope according to claim 7,characterized by the fact that said flange (8) is provided with at leastone channel (10) for the insertion of an additional instrument.
 10. Arectoscope according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a lightexit area (71) of said light conductor connection (6) is disposed in aproximal region (1") of said wide-lumen tube (1).
 11. A rectoscopeaccording to claim 10, characterized by the fact that said light exitarea (71) is not disposed on an axis (11) of said tube (1).
 12. Arectoscope according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that axes ofsaid light conductor connection (6) and of said viewing optic (3) forman angle < > °.